I've never really enjoyed the massive look of Government Architecture, particularly of the Soviet and Nazi regimes, because it feels very reminiscent from the Baroque, in the sense that it was made to show you who was in charge.

But, I also have a morbid fascination with them, because those projects have very interesting stories behind their design.

Funny fact about the Warsaw Tower. At the base of the "knowledge" side is a statue holding a book authored by the leaders of the Communist movement: Marx, Lenin, and an odd blank space a different color than the rest of the stone.

I think they modeled the Palace of the Soviets on Pandemonium, Lucifer's capital city in Milton's Paradise Lost.

Talk about your high kitsch! It's even got King Kong about to be attacked by the Soviet Air Force.

Zigars? Ziggurats?Anon, out of the earth, a fabrick hugeRose... where pilasters roundwere set, and Dorick pillars overlaidWith golden architrave, nor did there wantCornice or freeze, with bossy sculptures graven:The roof was fretted gold. Not BabylonNor great Alcairo, such magnificenceEqualled in all their glories...